Filament loading mechanism



Jan. 7, 1964 L. KATZ FILAMENT LOADING MECHANISM Filed July 16, 1962 ITM/erw c170V 1 LeTOQ Hartz vrweg (IIIV Ille United States Patent O 3,116,819 FILAMENT LOADNG MECHANlSM Leroy Katz, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Jnly 16, 1962, Ser. No. 210,168 6 Claims. (Cl. 193--43) The present invention relates to apparatus for loading containers with fine linear coil filaments such as are used in electric incandescent lamps.

In the present day high-speed production manufacture of electric incandescent lamps, the filaments for the lamps are generally fed into lamp mount-making machines by means of automatically operating filament feeding mechanisms. Until recently, however, no satisfactorily operating automatic lament feeding mechanism had ever been devised for extremely small size linear coil filaments having coil diameters as little as .0035 inch or thereabouts, the extremely small size and limp character of such tiny filaments rendering them exceptionally difficult to handle. As a result, such filaments customarily were hand-fed in the past into the lamp mount-making machine by an operator who picked up the filaments one-by-one in a tweezers and loaded them into the filament receiving means of the mountemaking machine. Recently, however, a satisfactorily operating automatic filament feeding mechanism has been devised for feeding such extremely small size linear coil filaments into the filament receiving means of a lamp mount-making machine, the machine picking up the linear coil filaments one-by-one from a receptacle or bucket containing a supply of the filaments arranged in parallel side-by-side relation therein. Since these small size filaments, as they come from the filament coiling machine, are customarily arranged in the form of a loose collection thereof in a shipping vial or other package, the filaments being intertangled in a variety of different positions relative to one another, it is therefore necessary, as a prerequisite to the feeding of such filaments by the aforementioned automatic filament feeding mechanism, to first disentangle the filaments from the loose collections thereof and arrange them in the required parallel side-by-side relation within the above-mentioned filament supply buckets or containers.

lt is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide apparatus for facilitating the loading of extremely small size linear coil filaments from a loose collection thereof into a container in parallel side-by-side relation therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically disentangling and separating out individual coiled linear filaments from a loose intertangled collection thereof and progressively delivering the filaments in parallel relation into a filament receiving container.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the filament loading apparatus comprises an inclined elongated V-shaped trough adapted to receive the filaments adjacent its upper end and vibratable to cause the filaments to slide downwardly therealong and be discharged from its lower end into a container in parallel position therein longitudinally aligned with the trough, and a filament receiving and sorting comb mounted above the upper end of the trough in a similarly inclined position with its teeth upstanding and vibratable to disentangle and separate the filaments of a loose intertangled collection thereof placed in a body on the comb and discharge the disentangled filaments endwise from the comb into the upper end of the trough. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the teeth of the filament sorting comb are of cone-shaped form and are arrayed in an area pattern substantially all dimensions across which are greater than the length of the coiled filaments, with the ice spacing between the adjacent teeth being several times that of the coil diameter of the filaments. In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the V-shaped trough is provided with a multiplicity of upstanding surface protuberances arranged in staggered relation thereon and spaced apart a distance less than the length of the filaments for the purpose of momentarily catching and retarding the sliding movement of the filaments downwardly into the valley of the V-shaped trough, following their release into the trough from the comb.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a species thereof and from the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, FIG. l is a perspective View of a filament loading device comprising the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section, on an enlarged Scale, on the line 2 2 of FIG. l, with portions of the device shown broken away and in section in order t0 better illustrate its construction.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the filament sorting comb of the filament loading device, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the filament receiving container and the holder therefor.

Referring to the drawings, the filament sorting device there shown comprises, in general, a filament sorting comb 1 mounted in an inclined position above, and preferably within, the upper end of a similarly inclined trough 2 of flattened V-shaped cross section. The comb 1 is provided with a multiplicity of individual cone-shaped teeth 3 and, as shown, it is mounted in a position with its teeth upstanding for the reception thereon of a loose collection of the filaments 4 which are to be packaged or loaded into elongated containers or buckets 5 one of which is shown positioned at the lower end of the trough 2 in position to receive the coil filaments 4 as they are discharged from the lower end of the trough. The comb 1 is suitably vibrated to cause the loose collection of filaments 4, when placed thereon, to be combed out and disentangled or separated from one another, and to be discharged endwise from between the comb teeth 3 at the lower side of the comb onto the inclined trough 2. The trough 2 is likewise vibrated to cause the individual filaments 4, as they drop onto the trough from the comb 1, to slowly slide down the sloping sides of the V-shaped inclined trough 2 into the valley thereof and eventually be discharged from its lowermost end, in parallel positions longitudinally aligned with the trough, into a container or bucket 5 positioned at the lower end of the trough.

The teeth 3 of the comb 1 are arrayed in an area pattern substantially all dimensions across which are greater than the length of the linear coil filaments 4. In the particular case illustrated, wherein the linear coil filaments 4 are of the order of l inch or so in length, the comb 1 suitably may be of essentially circular configuration, as shown, with the comb teeth 3 arrayed in a generally circular or a hexagonal pattern having a major diameter of around 2 inches or so. The comb teeth 3 are spaced apart at their bases a uniform distance several times greater than the coil diameter of the filaments 4. Thus, in the case of linear coil filaments 4 having a coil diameter of around .0035 inch or so, the comb teeth 3 may be spaced apart at their bases a distance of around 1,46 inch or so. To facilitate the free sliding movement of the filaments 4 downwardly between the teeth 3 of the inclined comb 1 and out the lower side thereof, the comb is formed of a material having an unctuous surface character, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene.

The comb 1 is fastened to and supported in place by a support bracket 6 which is secured, as by means of fastening bolt '7, to the vibrating arm S of a commercial type electromagnetic vibrator 9 which serves to impart the vibratory movement to the comb. The electromagnetic vibrator 9 is suitably supported for vibratory movement as by being cushion-mounted on the inclined arm portion 10 of a support bracket 11 upstanding from a stationary support such as a table or bench 12. As shown, the vibrator 9 may be secured by the fastening bolt 7 to the support bracket 11 through an intervening sponge rubber cushioning pad 13 and bolt cushioning collar 14 to afford the cushion-mounting for the vibrator. The operation of the electromagnetic vibrator 9 to effect the vibration of the comb 1 may be controlled by the opening and closing of a switch 15, which may conveniently be of the foot-operated type, connected in the power supply line 16 for the vibrator.

The inclined trough 2 may be made of any suitable metal, such as copper or steel for example, which will permit free sliding movement of the filaments 4 downwardly therealong, and it is mounted at the proper inclination to cause the filaments to slowly slide and work their way down the inclined trough only under the infiuence of the vibration imparted to the trough by the vibrator 9. To this end, the mounting of the trough 2 at an inclination of around 20 or so has been found to be effective for such purpose. As shown, the trough 2 is preferably formed with a multiplicity of upstanding surface protuberances 17, suitably in the form of raised dimples or bosses arranged in staggered relation thereon and spaced apart a distance less than the length of the laments 4, for the purpose of retarding the sliding movement of the filaments 4 laterally downward of the sloping sides of the trough 2 into the valley therebetween. This assures the positioning of such filaments parallel to and alongside any filaments already present in the valley of the trough 2 by preventing them from rolling over on top of, and coming to rest crosswise of any filaments already present in the valley of the trough.

For purposes of simplification, the trough 2 conveniently may be vibrated by the same electromagnetic vibrator 9 which imparts the vibration to the comb 1. To this end, the trough 2 is supported at its upper end on the arm 8 of the vibrator 9 to which it is secured or clamped by means of the fastening bolt 7 and the comb supporting bracket 6.

The container or bucket 5 into which the filaments 4 are loaded as they drop off the lowermost end of the inclined trough 2 is preferably carried in a suitable holder 18 for easy manipulation by an operator to slide it back and forth, as necessitated, on the top surface 19 of a raised support member 20 on the table top 12 in order to thereby effect the proper accommodation of the filaments in the bucket in the desired side-by-side relation therein as they are discharged from the lower end of the trough. To further assist in the proper positioning or loading of the filaments 4 into the buckets 5 in such side-by-side relation, and prevent any of the filaments from lying across one another in the bucket, the carrier or holder 18 for the filament receiving buckets 5 may be periodically vibrated, as needed, by an operator by momentarily touching the vibrating plunger 21 of a portable type commercial electromagnetic vibrator 22 against the holder 18.

In the operation of the filament loading mechanism according to the invention, a loose collection of the linear coil filaments 4 to be loaded into the containers or buckets 5 is dumped in a body onto the teeth 3 of the comb 1, whereupon the comb and the associated trough 2 are vibrated by the closure of the control switch in the energizing circuit 16 for the electromagnetic vibrator 9. Under the influence of the vibrating movement of the comb 1 and the trough 2, the filaments 4 are disentangled and combed or separated out from one another by the comb teeth 3, and they slowly slide downwardly therebetween and emerge endwise from the lowermost side of the comb 1 whereupon they then drop onto the vibrating trough 2. Under the infiuence of the vibrating movement of the trough 2 imparted thereto by the vibrator 9, the filaments 4 then slowly slide down the sloping sides of the inclined trough, between the surface protuberances 17 thereon, into the valley of the trough and thence continue their sliding movement downwardly along the trough in the valley thereof. As a result, the filaments become aligned with one another in parallel relation to each other within the valley of the trough before they reach the lowermost or discharge end thereof. The filament receiving container or bucket 5 carried within the slidable holder 18 is positioned by an operator opposite the discharge end of the trough 2 in longitudinal alignment therewith in order to receive the filaments 4 in proper position in the container in parallel side-by-side relation therein. The vibration of the comb 1 and trough 2 by the vibrator 9, to effect the discharge of the filaments 4 into the containers 5, need only take place intermittently as needed, under the control of the foot switch 15 by the operator, depending on the rate at which the filaments are being discharged from the trough 2 into the container or bucket 5. During the time each bucket 5 is being filled with the filaments 4, it may be periodically vibrated as needed by the operator, by contacting the portable vibrator 22 against the bucket holder 18, in order to thereby further assist in the proper positioning of the filaments 4 in side-by-side relation within the bucket.

The filament loading mechanism as thus described is capable of effectively separating and loading the linear coil filaments 4 at a rapid rate from loose collections thereof into the buckets or containers 5 each of which may individually contain several thousands of the tiny coil filaments. Thus, in actual practice, it has been found possible, by the use of the filament loading mechanism according to the invention, to load the filaments 4 from loose collections thereof into the buckets 5 at rates as high as 10,000 per hour, for example.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be Widely moditied within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Mechanism for loading fine linear coiled filaments from a loose collection thereof into a container in parallel side-by-side relation therein, comprising an inclined elongated trough adapted to receive the filaments adjacent its uppermost end and vibratable to cause the filaments to slide downwardly therealong toward its lowermost end and be discharged into the said container in parallel positions longitudinally aligned with said trough, said trough being of flattened V-shaped transverse cross-section, and a filament receiving and sorting comb mounted within said trough in a correspondingly inclined teeth-upstanding position adjacent its uppermost end, said comb being vibratable to disentangle the filaments of a loose intertangled collection thereof placed on said comb and discharge the disentangled filaments endwise from the comb into the said trough adjacent its uppermost end, said comb having a multiplicity of individual cone-shaped teeth arrayed in an area pattern substantially all dimensions across which are greater than the length of the said filaments, the said comb teeth being spaced apart at their bases a distance several times greater than the coil diameter of said filaments.

2. Filament loading mechanism as specified in claim 1 wherein the said trough is provided with a multiplicity of upstanding surface protuberances arranged in staggered relation thereon and spaced apart a distance less than the length of the said filaments.

3. Filament loading mechanism as specified in claim 1 wherein the said comb is formed of an unctuous material to facilitate sliding movement of the filaments downwardly between the teeth of the inclined comb and out the lower side thereof.

4. Filament loading mechanism as specified in claim 1 wherein the said comb is formed of a synthetic resin of unctuous surface character.

5. Filament loading mechanism as specified in claim 1 wherein the said comb is formed of polyethylene of unctuous surface character.

6. Mechanism for loading ine linear coiled filaments from a loose collection thereof into a container in parallel side-by-side relation therein, comprising an inclined elongated trough adapted to receive the filaments adjacent its uppermost end and vibratable to cause the filaments to slide downwardly therealong toward its lowermost end and discharge them into the said container in positions longitudinally aligned with said trough, said trough being of flattened V-shaped transverse cross-section, and a filament receiving and sorting comb mounted on said trough in a correspondingly inclined teeth-upstanding position centrally therewithin adjacent its uppermost end, said comb being vibratable with said trough to disentangle the filaments of a loose intertangled collection thereof placed on said comb and discharge the disentangled filaments endwise from the comb into the said trough adjacent its uppermost end, said comb having a multiplicity of individual cone-shaped teeth arrayed in an area pattern substantially all dimensions across which are greater than the length of the said filaments, the said comb teeth being uniformly spaced apart at their bases a distance of around 1/16 inch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,435 Gamper Dec. 2, 1913 2,334,004 Herzog Nov. 9, 1943 2,765,900 Seabrooke Oct. 9, 1956 2,913,099 Saltz Nov. 17, 1959 

1. MECHANISM FOR LOADING FINE LINEAR COILED FILAMENTS FROM A LOOSE COLLECTION THEREOF INTO A CONTAINER IN PARALLEL SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION THEREIN, COMPRISING AN INCLINED ELONGATED TROUGH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FILAMENTS ADJACENT ITS UPPERMOST END AND VIBRATABLE TO CAUSE THE FILAMENTS TO SLIDE DOWNWARDLY THEREALONG TOWARD ITS LOWERMOST END AND BE DISCHARGED INTO THE SAID CONTAINER IN PARALLEL POSITIONS LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID TROUGH, SAID TROUGH BEING OF FLATTENED V-SHAPED TRANSVERSE CROSS-SECTION, AND A FILAMENT RECEIVING AND SORTING COMB MOUNTED WITHIN SAID TROUGH IN A CORRESPONDINGLY INCLINED TEETH-UPSTANDING POSITION ADJACENT ITS UPPERMOST END, SAID COMB BEING VIBRATABLE TO DISENTANGLE THE FILAMENTS OF A LOOSE INTERTANGLED COLLECTION THEREOF PLACED ON SAID COMB AND DISCHARGE THE DISENTANGLED FILAMENTS ENDWISE FROM THE COMB INTO THE SAID TROUGH ADJACENT ITS UPPERMOST END, SAID COMB HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF INDIVIDUAL CONE-SHAPED TEETH ARRAYED IN AN AREA PATTERN SUBSTANTIALLY ALL DIMENSIONS ACROSS WHICH ARE GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE SAID FILAMENTS, THE SAID COMB TEETH BEING SPACED APART AT THEIR BASES A DISTANCE SEVERAL TIMES GREATER THAN THE COIL DIAMETER OF SAID FILAMENTS. 